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posted May 26, 2008 at 15:44 in NBA Free Picks

WHAT: Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference championship series

WHO: Boston Celtics (66-16 SU, 52-28-2 ATS) at Detroit Pistons (59-23 SU, 46-35-1 ATS) -- regular season records

WHERE: The Palace of Auburn Hills, MI

WHEN: Monday, May 26 at 8:30 PM ET

BetUS NBA basketball betting odds: Detroit -6, Total 175. Money line: Detroit -265, Boston +225

Here are some of the NBA online betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* BOS has won 17 of its last 25 games SU

* BOS has covered two of its last eight games

* BOS has lost six of its last seven road games SU

* BOS has played seven of its last 11 games UNDER the total

* DET has won eight of its last 11 games SU

* DET has won five of its last six home games SU

* DET has played four of its last five games UNDER the total

* DET has covered four of its last six home games

In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA sports betting trends:

* BOS has won four of the last five meetings SU

* DET has won 15 of the last 20 meetings SU

* BOS has covered four of the last five meetings

* Six of the last seven meetings have gone UNDER the total

* DET has won seven of the last nine meetings SU as the home team

* Three of the last four games in Auburn Hills have gone UNDER the total

* BOS has had the shooting edge in five of the last six meetings

* BOS has had the rebounding edge in five of the last six meetings

* DET has made more three-pointers in six of the last nine meetings

At the outset I felt the Pistons could win this basketball betting series because they have demonstrated they can win playoff games on the road. And they did that in Boston. But some other dynamics have changed.

One of those is that Boston won Game 3 in Auburn Hills, its first road win of the post-season. so it got a monkey off its back. Another is that the Celts just seem to have too much useful size for Detroit to deal with. While it is true that Kevin Garnett has had to work hard on the offensive end, he has exceeded his season scoring average in each of the last three games. And on defense Garnett and Kendrick Perkins (10 rebounds in Games 1 and 3) are starting to force Detroit into being a jump-shooting team, which is exacerbated because ball movement sometimes is limited by...the Chauncey Billups problem.

Since returning from his hamstring injury, Billups has been severely hampered, scoring just 34 points with 13 assists in his last three games. It is clear that he was not completely ready to go into action, but at the same time in a situation where there is no tomorrow, so to speak, he doesn't have any choice. Billups is hampered on defense as well, and when Rodney Stuckey is in the game in his place the ability to force turnovers still exists, but the Pistons aren't going to be as good in their help defense.

Boston has looked awkward at time trying to negotiate Detroit's half-court trap, but they have done it nonetheless. And it often leaves Garnett without a lot of resistance for the short-range shots. Also, Rajon Rondo is going to be more effective if you give him open jumpers, and that's what Detroit is doing.

There is also an upside for Boston. That's ray Allen, who since the Cleveland series started has topped 16 points only once. If Allen gets hot, he adds another weapon to the Celtics' arsenal.

We'll recommend taking the six points with Boston in the BetUS NBA playoff basketball betting odds, plus a small play on the BetUS money line, which presents Boston at +225.

JAY'S PLAYS: BOSTON (+6 and +225)

You’ll find the latest NBA playoff odds and lines in the best online sportsbook, BetUS.com. Betting on NBA player and game props makes every aspect of the game exciting. Join BetUS.com today to bet on the NBA and make online sports betting work for you!

(Charles Jay of http://www.eBookies.com is a freelance writer and handicapper who not only can make his shots from the top of the key, but also contributes with gusto to the BetUS Locker Room)